PoliticsSeptember 22, 2005 1:38 pm
The Conservatives are brimming with confidence:
The Conservatives could form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats if there is a hung parliament after the next election, the Tory chairman Francis Maude, has said.
Sorry, Mr Maude, but I didn’t join the Conservative Party so I could team up with a mixture of frustrated socialists and frustrated libertarians. Frankly, I’d rather be decimated in the polls than form such a coalition.
Why are the Tories so keen to march into exile? If the “wet” wing of the party reckon they can have a go at things, surely there is no need to sabotage it? We all know that these things never work out anyway.
Comment by DE — September 22, 2005 @ 3:49 pm
Fair enough on the socialists, but I don’t think there are any libertarians in the Lib Dem ranks. If they are, they’re idiots. My guess is that most libertarians either don’t vote, or vote Tory holding their nose, when the economic factors (tax cuts) start to outweigh social ones.
Comment by Andrew — September 22, 2005 @ 6:40 pm
The said Francis Maude is, sadly, my MP and just one more reason why I cant bring myself to vote Conserative any more.
Its very rare for me to disagree with you Gary but I certainly see nothing remotely remotely
‘Libertarian’ about the Libs Dems, with their love of the big state, ever more interference in our lives and their support for that abomination the EU. Quite the opposite in fact. I actually like to think that many of the core values of the ‘old’ Conservative party had a lot in common with Libertarianism. I would site a common belief in the small state, minimal Government interference, low taxes, personal responsibility and a belief in the Capitalistic process. Sadly I just dont see that in the Conservative Party any more. Indeed if you want to see a conservative politician who actually believes in these things the only one I can think of off the top of my head is Dr Ron Paul, a Cogressman for Texas.
Sorry Gary, I really think we need a strong and effective opposition to counter the current government. Right now though the Conservative Party is’nt it and until things change I will stick with UKIP.
Regards, and thanks for an excellent website.
SD
Comment by sussex Downsman — September 22, 2005 @ 10:37 pm
I think there may be both socialists and libertarians in the Lib Dem ranks. I actually know (well, knew) a Lib Dem whose leanings were strongly libertarian. I’m sure he could be described as a frustrated libertarian. I also heard a Lib Dem chap - Malcolm Bruce - speaking who claimed to be a classical Liberal which, I admit, made me wonder a bit.
Lib Dem MP Ed Davey has tried to tie classical Liberalism with social democracy (aka socialism-lite). Again, you can’t help but wonder. It does suggest though that he’s trying to do with liberalism what some Conservative Party members are trying to do with conservatism - make it into something it isn’t.
David Cameron also remarked that when he deals with Lib Dems in committees he finds there are two wings - one that is slightly to the left of Labuor and the other which is more classically liberal.
So I detect a libertarianism - or classical liberalism if you prefer - in some areas of the party which is being strangled by the party’s leftist leanings but which is being clung on to by those who do not want to see its passing.
Personally, I’d rather they were proper libertarians. Then at least we’d have one clear, ideologically trustworthy party with which to debate.
Comment by Gary Monro — September 23, 2005 @ 7:39 am
Well, I think you’ll agree that a flat tax system is about as basic a Libertarian demand as you can get. Lets see who supports that. The other signal would be legalising cannabis - though thats probably not possible now.
And I don’t remember any MP openly applying this label to themselves.
Comment by DE — September 23, 2005 @ 11:49 am
I believe the libertarian tendency was smacked down at their convention last year when the (was it?) purple book, which apparently had loads of “classical liberal” points in it was quashed. I have a feeling many of those types would lean towards voting for, or even joining, a Conservative party which stood closer to that tendency than the wets.
Comment by James G. — September 24, 2005 @ 9:35 am